Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-01-26
Tho Centennial Celebration.

A MESSAGE FROM THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT
NYING THE MEMORIAL FROM THE EXECU-
TIVE COMMITTEE OF THE sUB-CoNsTITU-
TIONAL CENTENNIAL COMMISSION.
On the 18th instant, the President sent
the following message to Congress-
TO the Senate and House of Representatives
As matter of national interest, and one
solely within the discretion and control of
Congress, l transmit the accompanying
memorial of the Executive Committee Of
the Sub Constitutional Centennial Commits
sion, proposing to celebrate on the 18th of
September, 1887, in the city of Philadel-
phia. as the day upon which, and the place
where the Convention that passed the Fed
eral Constitution concluded their labor and
submitted the ratification to the thirteen
States then composing the United States
This epoch was Of the deepest interest and
events, we'll worthy of commemoration. 1
am aware that as each State acted indepen-
IDENTIFY in giving its adhesion to tho new
Constitution, the dates and anniversaries of
their several Publications are not coineident.
Some action looking to national express
sion in relation to the close of the first CEN
fury of popular government under the writ
ten Constitution has already been suggest
ed, and whilst stating the great interest
share in a renewed examination by the
American people of the historical founda-
ton of their Government, do not feel war
ranted in discriminating in favor of or
against propositions to select one day or
place in preference to all Others, and there
fore content myself with carrying to Con-
gress these expressions of popular feeling
and interest upon the subject, hoping that
int Of atrin
er than of local competition, fitting mea-
sures may be reached by Congress which
will give the amplest opportunity all over
these United States for the manifestation of
affection and the confidence of free and
mighty nation in the institutions of the
Government of which they are the fortunate
inheritors, and under which unexampled
prosperity has been enjoyed by all classes
and conditions in our social system.
(Signed) GROVER CLEVELAND.
WHEN THE EARTH WILL Stop RRvoLv-
ING.-A problem which is attracting to it's
study astronomers, relates to the earth as a
time-keeper. We measure time by divid-
ing either the period during which the
earth revolves around the sun, or that in
which it turns on it's axis. By the FIST
method we measure year; by the second
day. The earth, according tie some as
tronomers is losing time. Through two
cause.-the suns attraction and the fric-
ton, so to speak, of the tides-the earth
each year revolves more slowly ON its axis
The speculative question which these as
tronomers are discussing is whether in the
end the earth will stop its revolution upon
It's axis and will present always the same |
face to the sun. When that event occurs
there will be perpetual day in one part of
the earth and perpetual night in another. |
But there is no occasion for immediate |
alarm. The rate at which the earth is sup
posed to lose time only shortens the year
by half secssd in century, There are
more than 81, 000, 900 seconds in year.
Therefore, if the earth ever does cease to
revelve on its axis it will be more than six
million years before it will stop.
-Cpoper's Journal,